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MaddowBlog-White House starts preparing the public for persistently high gas prices
Consumers hoping for a break at the pump are getting signals from Team Trump: It’s probably best to start lowering expectations.
Link to tweet
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/white-house-starts-preparing-the-public-for-prolonged-high-gas-prices
Now the White House is taking subtle steps to prepare the public for gas prices that will be high for a prolonged period. The New York Times reported:
In context, Fox’s Maria Bartiromo specifically asked the president whether he believes his policies will lower prices. After a long and meandering response that made little effort to answer the question, the host tried again: “Do you believe the price of oil and gas will be lower before the midterm elections?”
A day later, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who had previously told the public to expect a price drop by the summer, switched gears and said at the Semafor World Economy summit that consumers shouldn’t expect a break anytime soon.
“The president knew going into this that if you disrupt the flow of energy through [the Strait of Hormuz], in the short term, you’re going to push up energy prices,” Wright said.
Of course, if Trump did know that, he neglected to share those expectations with the public.
Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said in a written statement that if White House’s midterm pitch to Americans is “higher gas prices by Election Day, Republicans are in big, big trouble.”
President Trump suggested on Sunday that elevated gasoline prices in the United States might not fall before the November midterm elections, a prediction that continued his mixed messaging and underscored potential political headwinds facing Republicans in the fall.
Mr. Trump had long downplayed a sharp spike in gas prices driven by the war in Iran by casting it as a ‘short-term increase’ that would subside within weeks. But on Sunday, Mr. Trump told Fox News that while he hoped gas and oil costs would drop before the midterms, prices ‘should be around the same’ in November — and might be ‘a little bit higher.’
In context, Fox’s Maria Bartiromo specifically asked the president whether he believes his policies will lower prices. After a long and meandering response that made little effort to answer the question, the host tried again: “Do you believe the price of oil and gas will be lower before the midterm elections?”
BARTIROMO: Do you believe the price of oil and gas will be lower before the midterm elections?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-04-12T14:35:55.025Z
TRUMP: I hope so. I mean, I think so. It could be the same or maybe a little big higher
(Check out Maria's face as he says this!)
A day later, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who had previously told the public to expect a price drop by the summer, switched gears and said at the Semafor World Economy summit that consumers shouldn’t expect a break anytime soon.
“The president knew going into this that if you disrupt the flow of energy through [the Strait of Hormuz], in the short term, you’re going to push up energy prices,” Wright said.
Of course, if Trump did know that, he neglected to share those expectations with the public.
Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said in a written statement that if White House’s midterm pitch to Americans is “higher gas prices by Election Day, Republicans are in big, big trouble.”